Shoot-out at Aaron's

Denver, CO
Tasted Wednesday, December 10, 2008 by Tim Heaton with 1,000 views

Introduction

A friendly get together at the always stellar (and extremely comfortable) Table 6 restaurant. As incredible as the wines were, the kitchen kept up every step of the way. Lots of french classics with a Napa bad-boy thrown in for good measure.

Flight 1 (8 Notes)

  • 2006 Jean Perrier et Fils Roussette de Savoie Château de Monterminod

    France, Savoie, Roussette de Savoie

    A medium bodied white with a pale gold colour. The wine has a somewhat oxidative character. Absent any real grittiness, the fruit itself was just fine - so it would appear that this (style) was probably intended by the winemaker. Best enjoyed above 50 degress, the wine has a simple rusticity and easy-drinking style that make it decent table wine with just a hint of sweetness. At approx $18, there are better values out there, but it's definitely worth trying if you haven't had anything from this region. Drink through 2010.

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  • 1997 Louis Jadot Corton-Charlemagne Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

    Breathtaking! A warm straw color with a very watery edge. This is drinking perfectly right now, but shows the structure for 4-6 years of sublime pleasure ahead of it. A medium-bodied gem with waves of complexity and enjoyment. Excellent balance and integration...everything a white burg at the Grand Cru level should be. Paired with chicken-fried sweetbreads as one of the apps - wonderful!

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  • 2000 Domaine de la Cotelleraie Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Le Vau Jaumier

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

    This cabernet franc from the Loire will surely outlive me. A medium ruby core and a bullet-proof frame of precision, terroir and depth, this wine blows me away each time I have it. A hint of pyrazine, damp, black earth, dark spices and wet cedar lead into a very broad palate with silky tannins and a 60 second finish. Opening the next one in 5 years, and the last one 5 years after that. Amazing. Approx $18 on release. 12.3% abv.

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  • 2000 Hospices de Beaune Beaune 1er Cru Cuvée Brunet Enchers par Cliff & Sharon Young

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

    Vibrant and youthful with a light garnet color, bright fruit and a medium finish. This is drinking perfectly right now, but is definitely at the end of its plateau. Had this with the duck confit (fell off the bone). The wine's cheery character reminded me that it was Beaune fruit, but at the same time nothing overly complex.Pinot Noir from Burgundy - what more can a man ask for! (well, there's the next wine, the '99 Dujac, for starters). Drink thru 2011, 13.4% abv.

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  • 1999 Domaine Dujac Morey St. Denis

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis

    A lovely bottle that went splendidly with the duck confit. For a village wine, this thing is built like a linebacker. Lots of depth, a broad mid-palate and a lots going on in the glass: champignons, forest floor, wet cedar, black tea and spice box. This saw a one hour decant and was just taking its first steps by the time it hit the table. Drink this over the next 8-12 years for best enjoyment. 13% abv, approx $70.

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  • 2005 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Impressive effort. A brooding purple core with a nose of bramble, cocoa powder, soap, cigar box and dark asian spices. This is a seductive wine that would have no problem getting you into trouble. The 15.7% abv is very well integrated and this is with only a 1 hr decant. Opened up nicely in the glass and the palate proved to be more of the same - it just kept getting better. Focused, yet restrained. A bunker-blaster of a wine. Drink thru 2017, approx $75 on the mailing list.

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  • 1994 Château Tirecul La Gravière Monbazillac

    France, Southwest France, Dordogne, Monbazillac

    I gave it an extra point just because it was so much fun -- we all marveled at the nose: a drag-strip, burnt rubber smell, with coffee grinds, molasses, herbs and toffee. On the palate the PERFECT amount of sweetness. Yes, it's thick, but the superb acid backbone washes it away to leave you with a 45 second finish. Showing perfectly right now, but with the stuffing to go another 5-10 years with no problem. Dynamite with the bleu cheese! 12.5% abv, approx $30 on release.

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  • 1999 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese **

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    A pale straw colour with mounds of peach, apricot, white flowers and a hint of baked kiwi pie. We enjoyed this with our cheese plate in a 375ml format. The wine is showing perfectly, but clearly has another decade (even in this format) a head of it. Terrific structure and a 1 minute finish. Nothing cloying here, just depth, character and lots of guilty pleasure. 8.5% abv, it was in a closeout bin for $9 (hah!).

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Closing

After about 3 1/2 hours, we all raised our hands and surrendered...we couldn't eat another crumb or drink another drop.

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